A billboard on I-77 south of Canton announces that American Energy Partners is hiring. And the founder of that partnership -- Aubrey McClendon -- announced this week he’s investing $1.75 billion in the Utica and Marcellus shale regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Fadel Gheit follows the industry – and especially McClendon -- for Oppenheimer. And he acknowledges some confusion about the latest announcement.

“The consensus out there is that at best the jury is still out. Some of the operators have thrown in the towel and said this thing was not a good investment. Aubrey seems to be convinced that this is the place to invest and it’s only a matter of time. Time will tell who is right and who is wrong.”

Last month, American Energy Partners was cited as one key factor in a decision by Access Midpoint to double the capacity of an oil and gas processing plant.

Gheit says one other strong believer – and investor – in the shale play here is Doug Lawler, the man who replaced McClendon when McClendon was forced out of Chesapeake.